Review of Deep Rising (1998) by Joel K — 25 Mar 2004

[size=3][i]Deep Rising [/i]earns its place on the list of the most incompetent action films of recent times, joining [i]Virus [/i]and [i]Wild Wild West[/i], among others. If the word "earns" seems inappropriate, it is not, for this is a film that seems to be proud of its ineptitude. Oddly enough, although this is probably one of the worst studio-financed films of the last ten years, it is not as detestable as films like [i]Wild Wild West[/i], because it has no pretensions of being excellent. The ending of the film should be a clue that the producers are going for campiness, but unfortunately, campy films are more delightful to talk about than to actually watch. The plot of [i]Deep Rising, [/i]as if it matters, is that a group of jewel thieves board an abandoned luxury liner and discover that the crew and passengers have been killed by a vicious monster. If this sounds similar to [i]Virus [/i]or countless other monster-movies, it is. The characters are all completely forgettable, and when Treat Williams (who once was a promising actor) is the top name on the marquee, you know a film is in trouble. There is not much more I can say about [i]Deep Rising[/i], for words can not do justice to this film's incompetence. Only three words come to mind: avoid this disaster.[/size].

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